Arianna Fontana and Pietro Sighel share the same ice and the same Olympic gold, having triumphed together in the mixed relay in short track speed skating. Off the rink, however, harmony is clearly lacking. The two Italian stars, both competing in individual finals scheduled just minutes apart, embody parallel careers that rarely align on a personal level.

The divide became public following an interview in which Sighel openly acknowledged his distance from Italy’s most decorated skater. He pointed to Fontana’s long decision to train abroad, suggesting it weakened team cohesion. In his view, the strength of the Italian squad lies in the collective growth of athletes who remained within the group.

The roots of the tension stretch back several years, notably to a controversial training incident in Courmayeur in 2019, which was only resolved in 2024 with the acquittal of the athletes involved. Sighel considers that chapter closed. He has also defended his much-discussed celebration after the relay victory, insisting it was not intended as provocation but as a way to draw attention to a sport still fighting for visibility, citing Valentino Rossi as a personal inspiration.

Sighel did not shy away from organisational criticism either, expressing frustration over the limited number of tickets allocated to athletes’ families. Yet the underlying focus remains on performance and growth, as Italian short track continues to seek broader recognition on the international stage.